20+ Pumpkin Desserts, Recipes, and Ideas

Name: 20+ Pumpkin Desserts | Recipes
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 1 8-inch graham cracker pie crust; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 3/4 cup powdered sugar; 1 cup pumpkin puree; 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)

These pumpkin desserts include the BEST easy recipes out there. From pumpkin pie to pumpkin bread, there are tons of uses for canned pumpkin.

The Best Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

Brownies, cookies, cakes, muffins, and pies are all desserts that can include pumpkin puree in the ingredients.

Come Fall (or around Thanksgiving), you’ll notice every grocery store finally stocking canned pumpkin puree. Libby’s 100% pure pumpkin is perhaps the most well-known, but there are other brands available. This is a sure-fire sign that Fall is in the air and that means ALL the pumpkin desserts!

Why use pumpkin in dessert recipes?

Pumpkin often replaces eggs and butter, helping make desserts moist on the inside, tender on the outside. It’s often used in baked goods, especially cakes and muffins, but can also be used in brownies or puddings, too!

I promise you though, you’ll never know that there is any pumpkin in there, as the flavor can often be masked by chocolate, spices, or even just used as a starchy base.

What is a popular pumpkin dessert?

1. Pumpkin pie

The most popular pumpkin dessert in anyone’s repertoire, nothing beats a classic pumpkin pie. This version is a little different, as it uses healthier ingredients and is naturally sweetened.

2. 3 Ingredient pumpkin cookies

Healthy pumpkin oatmeal cookies made with just 3 ingredients- oats, pumpkin, peanut butter, and optional chocolate chips. For some added sweetness, feel free to add some maple syrup or honey.

3. Healthy pumpkin muffins

Light and fluffy muffins that have no white flour and no refined sugar in them. They are made in just one bowl and are perfect for a healthy snack or a festive lunch box treat.

4. Healthy pumpkin bread

The easiest and most delicious pumpkin bread. It’s super moist in the middle and has a light and tender crumb. It’s made in one bowl and has no added sugar or dairy! Clocking in at under 150 calories a slice, I love enjoying a slice with a pumpkin spice latte.

5. Pumpkin cheesecake

This is the kind of dessert you would serve to impress others. A thick and creamy cheesecake full of pumpkin flavor and perfect on its own or served with some whipped cream or ice cream. Bonus? It’s secretly low carb.

6. No bake pumpkin cookies

The easiest pumpkin dessert, these pumpkin no bake cookies need 5 ingredients and take 5 minutes to whip up. They have no butter or oil in them and use up leftover pumpkin puree.

7. Keto pumpkin pie

A low carb version of the classic Thanksgiving dessert. The filling is perfectly creamy and smooth, with zero sugar and the buttery crust is grain free!

8. Keto pumpkin muffins

Flourless and sugar free pumpkin muffins! They are ultra-moist in the middle and taste incredible with some keto chocolate chips mixed through.

9. Pumpkin fudge

4 Ingredient pumpkin fudge that literally melts in your mouth! It has no butter or refined sugar in them, instead, uses peanut butter and is sweetened with maple syrup.

10. Keto pumpkin bread

This almond flour pumpkin bread is perfect as a cheeky breakfast or make a loaf and bring it to an office pot lock. No one will know it’s keto and it uses an entire can of pumpkin!

11. Pumpkin Blondies

Ooey, gooey, and rich blondies that are loaded with pumpkin flavor and tons of chocolate chips.

12. Almond flour pumpkin muffins

13. Pumpkin cake

14. 2 Ingredient pumpkin cake

15. Pumpkin brownies

Frequently Asked Questions

What brings out pumpkin flavor?

Pumpkin pie spice is known to enhance the pumpkin flavor in recipes. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, try adding some cinnamon and/or nutmeg.

Is canned pumpkin the same as pumpkin?

Yes, canned pumpkin is pumpkin puree. The only difference is that sometimes canned pumpkin can come as pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugar, spices, and thickeners to them.

Is Libby’s 100% pumpkin really pumpkin?

Libby’s 100% pumpkin puree is considered ‘real’ pumpkin but it actually has a mixture of butternut squash and other squashes in it. It will still bake as traditional pumpkin would regardless.